But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
Exodus 1:7-14
One of the most striking - and, rightly understood, most thrilling - things about these verses describing the plight of Israel is that the name of God is not even mentioned. What is underlined for us is the 'hiddenness' of His working (cf Matthew 13:33 and the words of the Hymn, 'He hides Himself so wondrously ...'). And the true and significant understanding of the situation is that in fact the family and people of Israel had become a battleground of unseen powers. On the one hand - we see this from the authoritative New Testament interpretation of this passage in Acts 7:17 - the power and purposes of God were at work fulfilling the divine will calmly, unhurriedly, and with sovereign ease in the multiplication of the insignificant family group into a great and numerous people. On the other hand, we may be sure that the devil would view this with misgiving and proceed to counterattack. This is the explanation of the bitter persecution and oppression that now came upon God's people, and this should serve to illuminate some of the darker passages of life in our own experience, when we feel heavy pressures upon our spirits and the heavens seem as brass. It is not always easy to see clearly in such circumstances, but verses such as these help us to do so, and to realise the all-important truth that nothing the devil is able to do can finally hinder or frustrate God's purposes. It stands written that the more the Egyptians afflicted Israel the more they multiplied and grew. God is sovereign in the affairs of men!